The Moral Argument: -Moral laws cannot exist without a God to create them and give them to people. -Moral laws do exist. -Therefore, God must exist.

Learning aims I am able to explain the difference between an action that is seen as a moral absolute/law and something that is seen as morally relative. I can explain Kant’s argument for God from morality

Argument in a nutshell

Starter Task: Dilemma No.1 You are a psychiatrist and your patient has just confided to you that he intends to kill a woman. You think your patient is bluffing/lying but cannot be sure. Should you report the threat to the police and the woman or should you remain silent as the principle of confidentiality between psychiatrist and patient demands?

Dilemma No.2 A fat man leading a group of people out of a cave on a coast is stuck in the mouth of that cave. In a short time high tide will be upon them, and unless he is unstuck, they will all be drowned except the fat man, whose head is out of the cave. [But, fortunately, or unfortunately, someone has with him a stick of dynamite.] There seems no way to get the fat man loose without using [that] dynamite which will inevitably kill him; but if they do not use it everyone will drown. What should they do? Extension- How would your view change if instead of a fat man it was a pregnant woman?

What has your group discussions about the statement told you about people’s sense of right and wrong?

Activity 2- Reflecting on our moral sense Examples of things the class believe are always wrong- or moral laws/absolutes Examples of acts where the decision to call it right or wrong depends on the circumstances (i.e. Morally relative) - (Hint-Try and add your own examples)

List as many reasons as you can for how we get a sense of right from wrong:

Plenary: How well have I met today’s learning aims?? -What is the ‘conscience’? -Explain how a ‘moral absolute’ or moral law is different to relative morality. -What things may lead to people developing a sense of right from wrong? Extension: How does Kant use morality to try to prove the existence of God? Is this a good argument? Give detailed reasons for your point of view.

Explain the argument from morality for God’s existence. (3 marks) Target: Knowledge and understanding of the argument from morality for God’s existence Levels Criteria Marks 0 Nothing relevant or worthy of credit. 0 marks Level 1 Something relevant or worthy of credit. 1 mark Level 2 Elementary knowledge and understanding, e.g. two simple points. 2 marks Level 3 Sound knowledge and understanding. 3 marks Candidates may include some of the following points: People have a powerful sense of right and wrong / an inbuilt sense of morality. This sense comes from a source outside themselves / higher authority, i.e. God. Therefore God exists. Credit explanations of ‘morality’: a system of ethics which distinguishes between right and wrong. Also credit developmental statements, e.g. moral behaviour takes priority even when people would prefer to do something else / appears to be a command from a higher / ultimate authority that must be obeyed / is not created by society, like the law, because laws are sometimes immoral (e.g. slavery).